Job 29:4-14

4 Oh, how I miss those golden years when God's friendship graced my home,

5 When the Mighty One was still by my side and my children were all around me,

6 When everything was going my way, and nothing seemed too difficult.

7 "When I walked downtown and sat with my friends in the public square,

8 Young and old greeted me with respect; I was honored by everyone in town.

9 When I spoke, everyone listened;

10 they hung on my every word.

11 People who knew me spoke well of me; my reputation went ahead of me.

12 I was known for helping people in trouble and standing up for those who were down on their luck.

13 The dying blessed me, and the bereaved were cheered by my visits.

14 All my dealings with people were good. I was known for being fair to everyone I met.

Job 29:4-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 29

In this chapter Job gives an account of his former and wishes it was with him now as then; and which he describes with respect to his own person, and the favours he personally enjoyed, whether temporal or spiritual, Job 29:1-4; with respect to his family and domestic affairs, Job 29:5,6; with regard to the esteem he had from men of every age and station, Job 29:7-11; the reasons of which were the mercy and compassion he showed to the poor, the fatherless, and the widow, and the justice he administered in the execution of his office as a magistrate, Job 29:12-17; in which honour and prosperity he expected to have lived and died, Job 29:18-20; and which he further describes by the respect he had among men, and the power and authority he exercised over them, Job 29:21-25.